Interview3

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Don't ask them what their name means or tell them they sound like Pearl Jam. The otherwise amiable guys of The Verve Pipe have heard it all before. Luckily, I didn't mention either, so drummer Donny Brown, guitarist A.J. Dunning and keyboards/percussionist Doug Corella let me chat with them for a while to examine the group's recent success and congratulate them on earning the title of "the industry's buzz-band of 1996." The three seemed surprised by the renowned honor. They needn't be so modest.

According to Villains producer Jerry Harrison (one the guitarist in Talking Heads and now best known as the producer of Live's multi-platinum album Throwing Copper), "When the band plays live, it delivers." Harrison couldn't be more correct. Just ask anyone who saw The verve Pipe in New Orleans last January at the BMG Convention. Everyone knows how we jaded industry-types can be at these showcases; so when the convictions expressed were all positive, the buzz that was created from that show signaled that this band was going to be huge.

RCA saw the group's potential back in the Spring of '94, when the label signed them. Not to mention the fact that The Verve Pipe's first two releases, through their own label, LMNO Pop!, sold more than 40,000 copies collectively. There's no question The Verve Pipe have the recipe for success.

The band's formula for music, while in actuality quite intricate, simply combines the passion of rock with intelligent lyrics, which are written smartly enough to have pop accessibility. A formula that undoubtedly equates to multi-format success, most recently proven by the band's first single from Villains. "Photograph" is already on more than 250 Alternative, Rock and Adult Rock Radio stations (currently charting at 8* on VA and 14* on Active Rock).

"We don't want to be categorized into only one form," says Donny, "by being more middle-of-the-road, we can easily crossover into other formats." And so they have. But, The Verve Pipe are not only a favorite among radio people and fans in their hometown of East Lansing, Michigan.

The arrangement of The Verve Pipe surfaced as a hybrid of two well-known Michigan groups. Brian Vander Ark (lead vocals/guitar) and his younger brother Brad (bass) had left a band called Johnny With An Eye to join forces with Donny and guitarist Brian Stout, who quit their band, Water 4 The Pool. Since then, Stout has been replaced by A.J., and Doug was added on keyboards. Which, according to Doug, "[The keyboards] really opened up a lot of avenues for the band and gave us a more melodic sound."

Donny, A.J. and Doug claim the band's influences all stem from melodic songwriters like (old) Elton John, XTC and The Beatles. Donny (who writes, although Brian in the primary songwriter) explains, "That's why we pay careful attention to songwriting. All of our influences, especially British-pop bands, were amazing at it. That's our bag too. We are not out to throw this overwrought emotion into a song. Even though we want that [emotion], our band has never gotten to the point where we were like, 'God, we've got to get into the studio because we've really got something to say.'" A.J. agrees, "We don't have a particular message to make. It's more like, 'Look, we've got this song we want people to hear.'" The Verve Pipe have always been a touring band and will continue to be. The group most recently has been headlining a national tour with Semisonic, as well as playing loads of radio festivals this summer, including the now infamous "KROQ Weenie Roast & Sing Along" this month. The guys will probably see no break from the road before heading over to Europe in late August or early September. But they aren't complaining. "We're diligent. We're hardworking guys," Donny says, "you don't get a chance like this very often."

The latest effort was recorded in Sausalito, California, between August and early October of 1995. During the recordings, the guys lived on two houseboats on the San Francisco Bay, so they could be close to the studio. Donny summarizes, "It ended up being a very good experience for us. There were a lot of times when it wouldn't have mattered if I was living in the Getty mansion, because of what was going at the studio - but the boat had its moments."

While The Verve Pipe's Villains may make you think of other bands (sorry guys), producer Jerry Harrison has given them a sound all their own. Plus, their remarkable live shows will erase any reminders of "been there, done that." In fact, the only thing you will remember is a great fucking show. I assured the guys that the comparisons made by the industry and media (for example, calling The Verve Pipe the next Live) can only be taken as complimentary, and in no way are a discredit to their work. As they resist the flattery,. their scrupulous style and integrity are even more apparent. "We're not concerned to what degree it happens for us. We just look forward to playing and having people know our music," says Donnny, "and we're happy to have an album we're proud of."

Watch for continued success from follow-up tracks, including "Cup Of Tea" (the second single), "Penny Is Poison," "Barely (if at all)" and (my favorite, if you care) "Villains." Although they swear the name means absolutely nothing, I looked in the dictionary and came up with a definition - "verve": ability or talent and "pipe": to emit a shrill sound. In other words, The Verve Pipe = The ability to emit a shrill sound?! OK, I really do believe them now (but, at least give me credit that the band does have verve).